Using Art and Crafts for Preschool Classroom Activities

Preschool Art

Not only is using arts and crafts for preschool aged children fun, there are also many learning and developmental benefits as well. Taking the time to do crafts with your preschool or toddler students gives them a sense of achievement. Spending the quality time together with the students will also create wonderful memories and special bonding time.

Creating crafts with students improves their fine motor skills which are needed for learning to write. Arts and crafts also increase the ability the child has to concentrate, which is always a bonus for when the students move to grade school. Allowing your students to learn to express themself with their art is a wonderful experience and a possible life skill for many. Art is one area they can "break the rules" and do things their own creative way.

Using arts and crafts for Preschool activities teaches them creativity. My own students like to come up with their own art projects! Giving the students a box of different items and watching them create is a proud moment! However, If, like me, you are afraid of the mess these crafts can create, you are not alone! But fear not, because there are many fun and easy crafts for preschool kids that do not require mess!

Finding crafts that are in your comfort zone, or should I say comfort-mess zone, is important, becasue it will allow you to sit back and enjoy the time with your preschool kids. Just find what works for you, and pick projects accordingly! Here are some suggestions.

Musical Instruments

Boxed Guitar

This is an easy way to make a guitar using an old shoe box or tissue box, rubber bands, scissors, a paper-towel tube, and a pencil.

1) Find an old shoe box, tissue box, or other cardboard box. Then have an adult cut an oval shaped hole in the top.

2) Stretch a few rubber bands around the box and over the hole.

3) Put a pencil under the rubber bands on one side of the hol;e.

4) Tape on a paper towel tube and decorate your new guitar box!

Easy Tamborine

Here’s what you’ll need…

• 2 Paper plates

• Glue

• Bells

• Yarn or ribbon

• Paint and Brush

1) Paint your paper plates – eating side down.

2) Once they’re dry glue your plates together.

3) After they are securely in place punch holes around your paper plate.

4) With yarn or ribbon, tie on your bells.

Now you’re ready to make some music!

Images

Turtle Mosaic

Go outside on a "rock collecting mission" to find rocks and pebbles that will make this turtle’s hard shell.

What you’ll need…

• 1 Paper Plate

• Brown paint

• Green construction paper

• Black Marker

• Rocks and Pebbles

• Glue

• Scissors

• Pencil

1) Paint your paper plate brown

2) Using the green paper, cut out the turtle’s head and tail.

3) Using a coffee mug, trace out 2 circles and cut each circle in half to make the turtle’s legs.

4) Once the paint is dry, glue on all of your turtle’s parts. Don’t forget to draw on the turtle’s eyes!

5) Make your turtle’s shell strong by gluing on small rocks and pebbles.